August 16, 2017

Highlighted Year: Gary Garrison, 1970

Wide Receiver, San
Diego Chargers

Age: 26

5th season
in pro football & with Chargers

College: San
Diego State

Height: 6’1” Weight: 193

Prelude:

Garrison gained
1272 pass receiving yards in San Diego State’s air-oriented offense, setting a school
record with 26 touchdowns. He twice received Little All-American honors and
appeared in the East-West Shrine Game as a senior. Garrison was a future draft
pick of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chargers in 1965. Joining the Chargers in
1966, he moved into the starting lineup as split end in place of the injured
Don Norton across from star flanker Lance Alworth during his 1966 rookie
season, catching 46 passes for 642 yards (14.0 avg.) and four TDs. The speedy
Garrison followed up with 44 receptions for 772 yards (17.5 avg.) in 1967 and
52 catches for 1103 yards (21.2 avg.) and 10 TDs in ’68 when he was selected to
the AFL All-Star Game. Plagued by injuries in 1969, Garrison’s numbers dropped
to a still-impressive 40 catches for 804 yards (20.1 avg.) with 7 TDs.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in all
14 games

[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 44
[16, tied with four others]

Most
receptions, game – 8 (for 165 yds.) at Chicago 10/18

Yards – 1006 [4]

Most yards,
game – 165 (on 8 catches) at Chicago 10/18

Average gain – 22.9
[4]

TDs – 12 [2,
tied with Gene Washington, 1st in AFC]

100-yard
receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 4

Yards – 7

Average gain – 1.8

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 12 [3,
tied with Ron Johnson & Gene Washington, 1st in AFC]

Points – 72 [20,
tied with Ron Johnson & Gene Washington]

Awards & Honors:

2nd team
All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Chargers went 5-6-3
to finish third in the AFC West.

Aftermath:

Garrison
followed up with Pro Bowl seasons in 1971 and ‘72, catching 42 passes for 889
yards (21.2 avg.) and 6 TDs in ’71 and 52 for 744 yards (14.3 avg.) and 7
scores in ’72. He spent a total of 11 seasons with San Diego, until 1976,
catching a total of 404 passes for 7533 yards (18.6 avg.) and 58 touchdowns. He
appeared in one game with the Houston Oilers in 1977 after being let go by the
Chargers and caught one last pass for five yards to close out his career. Garrison
received second-team All-AFL or All-AFC honors twice and was chosen to three
Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories: